Published: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, May 16, 2014 at 11:00 p.m.

WINTER HAVEN | More than one new beginning was celebrated Friday at the Winter Haven Red Lobster restaurant.

Tony and Mary Nobrega of Haines City had pulled up to their favorite restaurant shortly after 3 p.m. to celebrate their wedding, which took place one hour earlier, capping a 20-year relationship. Tony Nobrega, 81, said he had heard about the sale of the Red Lobster chain to Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, for $2.1 billion in cash.

"I love this place," said Mary Nobrega, 73. "I like the salmon and lobster here and the salad; they make a nice salad."

The newlyweds said they would be saddened if the sale meant the closing of the Winter Haven restaurant.

The Norbregas needn't worry, said Erica Ettori, a Red Lobster spokeswoman, on Friday shortly after the Orlando-based parent company, Darden Restaurants Inc., announced the sale.

"Absolutely there are no current plans to close any location. That includes Lakeland and Winter Haven," Ettori said. "We've proudly served seafood in Lakeland since 1968 and will continue to do so."

Red Lobster's 46-year history began in Lakeland, when founder Bill Darden partnered with Charles Woodsby, who also founded Lakeland's Texas Cattle Co., and opened the first Red Lobster on U.S. 92 on the shores of Lake Parker. Former Gov. Lawton Chiles, also a Lakeland native, was an early investor in the chain's first four new restaurants.

Minneapolis-based food giant General Mills purchased those first five restaurants in 1970 and created a nationwide chain, currently numbering more than 700 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. General Mills spun off the chain, creating Darden Restaurants, in 1995. Darden operates other chain restaurants, including Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52 and the Yard House.

Darden announced in December it would either spin off or sell Red Lobster to improve the parent company's financial performance. Red Lobster's sales for its third quarter ending Feb. 23 fell 8.7 percent to $611 million, compared with the previous year's third quarter. Red Lobster has been losing customers in recent years to the growing popularity of places like Chipotle and Panera, where customers feel they can get the same quality of food without paying as much or waiting for table service, The Associated Press reported. On the other hand, Darden CEO Clarence Otis attributed Red Lobster's decline to its inability to attract higher-income customers attracted to its more successful chains, such as Longhorn, Capital Grille and Seasons 52, according to AP.

Another couple who frequented the Winter Haven Red Lobster, Wayne and Faye Strickland, both 70, of Haines City, reflected the pull between competing for the low- and high-ticket customer.

The Stricklands said they like the restaurant, which they patronize about twice a month, but Wayne Strickland acknowledged not purchasing that often his favorite dish, the Ultimate Feast, which has a Maine lobster tail, steamed North American snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi and fried shrimp.

"It went up to $28, so I don't get it too much anymore," Wayne Strickland said.

Golden Gate Capital indicated that it plans to expand the chain.

"Red Lobster is an exceptionally strong brand with an unparalleled market position in seafood casual dining," said Josh Olshansky, Golden Gate's managing director, in Friday's press statement from Darden. "Red Lobster is exactly the type of company in which we seek to invest given its great brand profile and strong management team. We see significant opportunities for future growth."

Alyssa Linn, a Golden Gate spokeswoman, declined to comment further.

Golden Gate Capital manages more than $12 billion of capital in companies such as California Pizza Kitchen, Payless ShoeSource, Eddie Bauer, Zales and Pacific Sunwear, according to the Darden statement. Darden has already approved the sale, which is expected to close within the next three months.

Darden's stock fell $2.20 to $48.49 per share at the close of trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.

[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-401-6980. ]

<p>WINTER HAVEN | More than one new beginning was celebrated Friday at the Winter Haven Red Lobster restaurant.</p><p>Tony and Mary Nobrega of Haines City had pulled up to their favorite restaurant shortly after 3 p.m. to celebrate their wedding, which took place one hour earlier, capping a 20-year relationship. Tony Nobrega, 81, said he had heard about the sale of the Red Lobster chain to Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco-based private equity firm, for $2.1 billion in cash.</p><p>"I love this place," said Mary Nobrega, 73. "I like the salmon and lobster here and the salad; they make a nice salad."</p><p>The newlyweds said they would be saddened if the sale meant the closing of the Winter Haven restaurant.</p><p>The Norbregas needn't worry, said Erica Ettori, a Red Lobster spokeswoman, on Friday shortly after the Orlando-based parent company, Darden Restaurants Inc., announced the sale.</p><p>"Absolutely there are no current plans to close any location. That includes Lakeland and Winter Haven," Ettori said. "We've proudly served seafood in Lakeland since 1968 and will continue to do so."</p><p>Red Lobster's 46-year history began in Lakeland, when founder Bill Darden partnered with Charles Woodsby, who also founded Lakeland's Texas Cattle Co., and opened the first Red Lobster on U.S. 92 on the shores of Lake Parker. Former Gov. Lawton Chiles, also a Lakeland native, was an early investor in the chain's first four new restaurants. </p><p>Minneapolis-based food giant General Mills purchased those first five restaurants in 1970 and created a nationwide chain, currently numbering more than 700 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. General Mills spun off the chain, creating Darden Restaurants, in 1995. Darden operates other chain restaurants, including Olive Garden, Longhorn Steakhouse, Bahama Breeze, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52 and the Yard House.</p><p>Darden announced in December it would either spin off or sell Red Lobster to improve the parent company's financial performance. Red Lobster's sales for its third quarter ending Feb. 23 fell 8.7 percent to $611 million, compared with the previous year's third quarter. Red Lobster has been losing customers in recent years to the growing popularity of places like Chipotle and Panera, where customers feel they can get the same quality of food without paying as much or waiting for table service, The Associated Press reported. On the other hand, Darden CEO Clarence Otis attributed Red Lobster's decline to its inability to attract higher-income customers attracted to its more successful chains, such as Longhorn, Capital Grille and Seasons 52, according to AP.</p><p>Another couple who frequented the Winter Haven Red Lobster, Wayne and Faye Strickland, both 70, of Haines City, reflected the pull between competing for the low- and high-ticket customer.</p><p>The Stricklands said they like the restaurant, which they patronize about twice a month, but Wayne Strickland acknowledged not purchasing that often his favorite dish, the Ultimate Feast, which has a Maine lobster tail, steamed North American snow crab legs, garlic shrimp scampi and fried shrimp.</p><p>"It went up to $28, so I don't get it too much anymore," Wayne Strickland said.</p><p>Golden Gate Capital indicated that it plans to expand the chain.</p><p>"Red Lobster is an exceptionally strong brand with an unparalleled market position in seafood casual dining," said Josh Olshansky, Golden Gate's managing director, in Friday's press statement from Darden. "Red Lobster is exactly the type of company in which we seek to invest given its great brand profile and strong management team. We see significant opportunities for future growth."</p><p>Alyssa Linn, a Golden Gate spokeswoman, declined to comment further.</p><p>Golden Gate Capital manages more than $12 billion of capital in companies such as California Pizza Kitchen, Payless ShoeSource, Eddie Bauer, Zales and Pacific Sunwear, according to the Darden statement. Darden has already approved the sale, which is expected to close within the next three months.</p><p>Darden's stock fell $2.20 to $48.49 per share at the close of trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange.</p><p>[ Kevin Bouffard can be reached at kevin.bouffard@theledger.com or at 863-401-6980. ]</p>